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Fujitsu Leverages AI Technology to Save Energy in Network OperationsFujitsu Leverages AI Technology to Realize Energy Saving in Network OperationsO-RAN- based multi-vendor connectivity test results show energy reduction of over 20%Fujitsu announced that it successfully equipped its Virtuora Service Management and Orchestration offering for Open RAN with a power-saving application using AI technology developed by Fujitsu. The Fujitsu rApp, uses traffic estimates powered by machine learning and artificial intelligence to switch network capacity on or off as needed, while maintaining service continuity. Fujitsu in November 2023 conducted interoperability tests of the Virtuora SMO offering equipped with RAN equipment and confirmed power savings of more than 20% compared to conventional methods for estimating communication traffic for individual base stations. Fujitsu further conducted successful interoperability tests with a third party system-level RAN emulator compliant with the O-RAN specifications provided by VIAVI Solutions (American telecommunications network measurement equipment vendor; hereinafter VIAVI). VIAVI TeraVM RIC test is a comprehensive AI training enablement, test & measurement solution for validation of Open RAN RIC, xApps and rApps using a containerized platform. Fujitsu announced the test results at “O-RAN ALLIANCE Global PlugFest Fall 2023,” an international event held by the O-RAN ALLIANCE in November 2023. O-RAN ALLIANCE plans to publish a PlugFest Virtual Showcase providing more details. Moving forward, Fujitsu plans to promote the creation and enhancement of a multi-vendor Open RAN ecosystem globally. Fujitsu will support telecommunication carriers in reducing operation and maintenance costs and accelerating the development of new services, with the goal of contributing to the realization of carbon-neutral network operations through power saving technologies. Overview of the connection tests 1. Date: November 17, 2023 2. Location: New Jersey, USA, COSMOS Lab at Rutgers University (one of two North American Open Testing and Integration Centers and host of part of the O-RAN ALLIANCE Global PlugFest Fall 2023) 3. Outline of the tests: Conducted interoperability testing, including verification of multi-vendor end-to-end connectivity and interoperability, between Fujitsu’s Virtuora SMO offering and VIAVI’s verification equipment, in compliance with the specifications established by O-RAN ALLIANCE (O-RAN specifications) Conducted power consumption testing of Virtuora SMO equipped with a power-saving application (rApp); Fujitsu confirmed a power saving of over 20% compared to the conventional methods 4. Contents and roles and responsibilities: As part of the interoperability tests, Fujitsu constructed a testing facility consisting of Fujitsu’s Virtuora SMO offering equipped with the “Virtuora Mobility Controller,” an integrated RAN control function that enables the parallel usage of power saving applications, Closed RAN/Open RAN, and multi-RAT, and the “TeraVM RIC Test,” a RIC (10) Tester developed by VIAVI that simulates the RAN function. Responsibilities: Fujitsu: multi-vendor connectivity assessment VIAVI: RAN scenario generator, analysis and monitoring of power-saving Companies including AT&T Communications participated as advisors in the tests and reviewed test items from an operator perspective and operational perspective. Interoperability tests were conducted under the evaluation of AT&T. Results of multi-vendor interoperability test showed that Fujitsu’s Virtuora SMO can successfully be connected to third party vendors’ RAN equipment and showed that power savings can be realized. 5. Fujitsu’s AI technology for estimation of communication traffic utilized in the power-saving application Features:
By harnessing the power of AI, Fujitsu's innovative application accurately estimated communication traffic for individual base stations on a cell-by-cell basis. This AI-driven approach resulted in over 20% power savings compared to traditional methods, impacting areas ranging from several square kilometers to several hundred square meters. Source: Fujitsu media announcement | |
